J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Mar;26(3):438-443. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.3.438.

Earthquake-related Crush Injury versus Non-Earthquake Injury in Abdominal Trauma Patients on Emergency Multidetector Computed Tomography: A Comparative Study

• Chen TW
• Yang ZG
• Dong ZH
• Chu ZG
• Tang SS
• Deng W

• KMID: 2157884
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.3.438

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate features of abdominal earthquake-related crush traumas in comparison with non-earthquake injury. A cross sectional survey was conducted with 51 survivors with abdominal crush injury in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and 41 with abdominal non-earthquake injury, undergoing non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans, serving as earthquake trauma and control group, respectively. Data were analyzed between groups focusing on CT appearance. We found that injury of abdominal-wall soft tissue and fractures of lumbar vertebrae were more common in earthquake trauma group than in control group (28 vs 13 victims, and 24 vs 9, respectively; all P < 0.05); and fractures were predominantly in transverse process of 1-2 vertebrae among L1-3 vertebrae. Retroperitoneal injury in the kidney occurred more frequently in earthquake trauma group than in control group (29 vs 14 victims, P < 0.05). Abdominal injury in combination with thoracic and pelvic injury occurred more frequently in earthquake trauma group than in control group (43 vs 29 victims, P < 0.05). In conclusion, abdominal earthquake-related crush injury might be characteristic of high incidence in injury of abdominal-wall soft tissue, fractures of lumbar vertebrae in transverse process of 1-2 vertebrae among L1-3 vertebrae, retroperitoneal injury in the kidney, and in combination with injury in the thorax and pelvis.

Keyword

Earthquakes; Abdomen; Injury; Multidetector Computed Tomography

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Injuries/*radiography
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disasters
*Earthquakes
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 In a 50-yr-old man with crush fractures of transverse process and the body of lumbar vertebrae, the three-dimensional reconstruction image of the lumbar spine shows fractures in the right transverse process (arrows) of L1-4 vertebrae and the left transverse process (arrows) of L2 and L4 vertebrae, and fractures of the body (arrowhead) of L1 vertebrae.

• 

  Fig. 2 Retro- and intraperitoneal injury has been detected by emergency computed tomography (CT). CT scan obtained at the level of body of pancreas in a 33-yr-old woman with abdominal earthquake-related crush injury illustrates traumatic pancreatitis (A, arrows). CT scan obtained at the level of inferior pole of right kidney in a 78-yr-old man with abdominal earthquake-related crush injury demonstrates a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (B, arrowhead) in combination with hematoma (B, arrow) in the right perirenal space. CT scan obtained at the level of body of pancreas in a 19-yr-old man with abdominal earthquake-related crush injury shows hepatorrhexis (C, arrow).

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